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EDITOR
MARION DEXTER LEARNED

University of Pennsylvania

XXIX.— THE SYNTAX OF BRANT'S NAREENSCHIFF

(See List at the End of 'the Book)

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

THE SYNTAX OF

BRANT'S NARRENSCHIFF

BY

HENRY DEXTER LEARNED

A THESIS

PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Bmericana Germanica

NUMBER 29.

Americana Germantca press

Philadelphia
1917

Copyright, 1917

by

HENEY DEXTER LEABNED

PATEI

ALIAM IN PAETEM ITEE MONSTEAVIT II/LE
MIHI VIBES DEFECEEVNT SEQVENDO

380106

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

No work heretofore published on Sebastian Brant's Narrenschiff
has attempted to treat thoroughly the subject of its syntax, al
though occasional points are noted and discussed in Zarncke's
edition,1 otherwise so exhaustive. It is my purpose to present a
systematic study of the syntax in as complete and accessible a
manner as I may, and thus attempt to elucidate some part of this
relatively little explored transition period in the history of the
literary language : when the Middle High German literary idioms
were gradually breaking down and giving way to the simpler, more
direct, more universal constructions of the popular speech.

The matters of arrangement and accessibility, in which our
German linguistic treatises leave so much to be desired, have
seemed to me to be of especial importance in such a work. I have
therefore been at great pains to put the material in as simple and
lucid an order . as I could devise : alphabetic wherever possible,
otherwise according to its logical relation or importance. I have
made careful cross-references and compiled an index which is
intended to include every mention of every word and every con
struction discussed.

It has been my aim to account for and at least to suggest the
explanation or development of every syntactical form used by
Brant which is not found in the literary language of the present
day, or which for any other reason — such as recording an early
appearance of a modern usage foreign to Middle High German,
or for the sake of completeness — seemed interesting enough to note.

Several considerations make the Narrenschiff an admirable
subject for such an investigation. In the first place, the author
was not much of a traveller, but lived all his days in the neighbor
hood of his birthplace, so that, in spite of Zarncke's repeated

See Bibliography.

(7)

8 • Preface

insistence * that German was practically a foreign language to
Brant, we may safely assume that he spoke an unaffected German :
" Wie ihm der Schnabel gewachsen war." Indeed, the very fact
that Brant was accustomed to write on learned topics in Latin
makes it all the more certain that this work, intended for popular
reading, represents the colloquial idiom. As a matter of fact, we
find but one or two expressions that can possibly be called Latin-
isms 2 in the NarrenscMff. Besides, Brant was not interested in
linguistics, and could have had no purpose to improve his native
tongue by flavoring it with Latin. If we need further proof of
the naive character of Brant's German, it is to be found in the
work itself, the language of which corresponds perfectly to the
present-day dialect of that region.3

The book is important also because of its tremendous circula
tion' and its profound influence, not only in Germany, but all ovei
Europe, which need not be discussed here in detail; and in this
connection we should note that it just precedes the influence on the
literary language exerted by Luther's translation of the Bible.

Finally, and perhaps most important, we have in this text
exactly what Brant wrote, since it is evident from many consider
ations 4 that Brant himself corrected the proof sheets very care
fully, and insisted that the compositor follow his copy accurately.
The result is a text differing not a little from the language of
contemporary prints.

I have limited myself here to the first edition of 149 4. 5

Any study of the inflectional forms which Brant used would
be beyond the scope of this work. Besides, the results would be
of questionable reliability because of the hopeless inconsistencies
in contractions and spelling which appear on every page. Brant
seems to have had regard only for sounds.

1 Op. tit., p. xxiv and elsewhere.

* These are noted where they appear in the body of the work.

8 Cf. Ch. Schmidt Wtirterbuch der Strassburger Mundwrt, Strassburg 1896.
— I have discussed certain minor points of deviation from the popular dialect
in the last chapter.

* Zarncke op. tit., p. 267.

5 1 used the facsimile edition of Franz Schultz, see Bibliography.

Preface 9

I have noted my indebtedness to the special treatises which
were useful to me at the proper places in the footnotes, and col
lected these and some more general titles in the bibliography.

At this point it may be proper to explain that I have not had
access to a large number of books which I expected to find helpful.
Many of them could not be located in this country at all, and of
course could not be procured from abroad at this time. This is
particularly true of dissertations lately published in Germany.
To be sure, relatively little has been done with the syntax of these
individual monuments.

Professor Shumway, who suggested this subject and turned over
to me the manuscript of an unpublished study he made in 1898
of the genitive in the Narrenschiff, besides helping me in many
details, has incurred, my sincerest gratitude. The searching criti
cisms of my father, Professor Learned, have also, I trust, borne
fruit.

HENRY DEXTER LEARNED.

Philadelphia, June 1917.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE PAGE

I. USE OF CASES 13

Accusative, §§ If; of content, §3; of limited time or space,
§ 4 ; of specification, § 5

Dative of possession, etc., § 6 ; with verbs, § 7 ; ethical, § 8 ;
by attraction, § 9

Genitive, possessive, subjective, § 10; objective, § 11; of
specification, §§12f; instrumental, §14; of character
istic, § 15; of quality, § 16; of cause, §§ 17 f; of material,
§19; partitive, §20; adverbial, §21; with verbs, §22.

II. PREPOSITIONS 24

With Accusative, §23; with Dative, §24; with Dative and
Accusative, § 25 ; with Genitive, § 26 ; position of prepo
sitions, §27; as Prefixes, §§28f.

III. PBONOUNS 28

Personal in genitive, §30; Possessives, §31; Reflexives,
§32; Relatives, §§33f; Demonstratives, §35; with in
animate antecedents, § 36 ; other Pronouns, § 37 ; Def .
Article, §38.

IV. VEEBS 31

Intransitives, §39; Impersonals, §40; Reflexives, §41; with
varying constr., § 42 ; with double constr., § 43 ; the par
ticle ge-, § 44.

Syntax of moods: Indie, and Subj., §§45f; Infinitive,
§§47ff; Progressive forms, §50.

V. CONJUNCTIONS AND ADVEEBS 39

Correlative and in comparison, § 51 ; old usages, § 52 ;
Adverbs, §§53f.

VI. THE RELATIVE CONSEEVATISM OF BEANT, LUTHEE

AND SACHS 43

BlBLIOGEAPHY 50

INDEX . 52

NOTE: For abbreviations of titles not self-explanatory, consult the bib
liography. Citations are numbered according to paragraphs or numbered sec
tions where the particular book is so divided ( e. g., Paul, Lehmann ) . Figures
not preceded by any other note refer to paragraphs in this book. References
by page are so noted (e, g., p. 20). Lines from the Narrenschiff are cited in
Arabic, Chapters in Roman numerals. Small a, b, c, d after the number of
the chapter indicates the line before the woodcut accompanying each chapter
( e. g., vi b ; xxiv 10 ) . The " Vorrede " is abbreviated " Vorr." ; " title " means
that the citation is from the title to the chapter noted.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

CHAPTER I. USE OF CASES.
ACCUSATIVE.

1. The use of the accusative in the Narrenschiff does not
differ greatly from the modern practise. Some verbs, e. g.,
garen, take an accusative in the, Narrenschiff which were used
differently in MHG. ; but the old and the new usages are gener
ally found together, neither to the exclusion of the other.1 Where
the Narrenschiff records a verb with the accusative only, it is used
so, as a rule, in NHG. So we find bediiren, flyehen, bhiiten;
the impersonals diirsten (w. noch and the dative), frtiren, hun
ger n, etc.

2. The accusative with the following verbs is interesting:
bedencken 2: wer bedenckt all dyng by zyt xii 3.
duncken: Er sicht vil das jn nit dunckt gut xxvi 28.

Der dunckt sich stryffecht Ivii 3.

impersonally: Manchen dunckt / er wer, etc. xxxiv a.

for dencken: Wer vil versuchen dut Den dunckt doch nit

eyn yeder gut xviii 28.

erkunden: er erkund all stett vnd landt Ixvi 3.
gelangen 3: Alls das sy gelangt Ixxxii 56.
(ge) lusten 3 : wan hie zu leben lust xliii 14.

Ein yeder findt das in gelust Vorr. 48.
vermahlen: Wer die (frow) vermahlet synem lib Ixiv 60.
vnderstan : ettwas gross vnderstan xv 23.
vrteln : Wer ander vrtelt bosz vnd kleyn 4 xxix b.

1 For such variant usage, see the chapter on verbs.

2 Generally intrans., or reflex., as in : Wer sich, bedenckt xii 5.

3 MHG. requires the subjective idea in the genitive, thus: des sie gelangt,
etc., Cf. 22 footnote to entleren and Paul 265.

* Zarncke, p. 358, n. to this passage, calls this double accusative, otherwise
unrecorded, a Latinism.

(13)

';!£* v ?**;«i The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff
••>.>« -.';«• %: '

.
beviln 1: das es jnn (ace. s. m.) nit bevilt Ixxx 9.

gewenden: der sorgt Das er nit gewenden mag xxiv 34.
werffen: Bisz man sie wurffet mit eym steyn Ixii 11.
zychen: Was zychstu mich xxiii 31.
erziirnen 2: das er Tceynen erzilrn xviii 24.

3. The " accusative of content/7 as Paul calls it,3 is repre
sented by such phrases as : Das man jm fluch bosz schwur Ixxvii
66.

4. The accusative is used, as in all periods of the language,
to express limited or definite time or space:

ir verlust Den sie den tag hetten gehan Vorr. 98.

das ichs nit mag Volbringen me / myn alien tag v 16.

Barmhertzigkeyt die leng nit stat xiv 27.

Gott beittet lange jor xxv 15.

Der weg ist breyt Dan vil sint die jn gant xlvii 16.

But the picturesque use of the accusative with any verb of
motion to denote the space covered, so extensive in MUG.,4 is not
found otherwise.

5. A related use of the accusative is to denote specification : 5

pflichtig ut; schuldig ut Ivii 29 f.

DATIVE.

6. The use of the dative in MHG. was but little different from
the modern practise. We should not, therefore, expect to find
much to discuss in the Narrenschiff under this caption. It is
hardly necessary to mention such obvious constructions as the
dative of possession with parts of the body : die oren mir, etc. ;

1 Cf. 2, footn. to gelangen; also Paul 265.

2 MHG. zilrnen is transitive (Paul 241). Brant uses it intransitively in:
Der herr des emiirn Do mem jn hochfwrt macht den turn xcii 115f., where
des may be causal genitive or the object of erziirnen.

3 Op. oit., 242.

4 Paul 245.

6 This construction occurs only in such phrases in the Narrenschiff, It was
much more widely used in MHG., Cf. Paul 247, 3.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 15

the dative of indirect object extended to adjectives: mannen schdnt-
lich Vorr. 116; der sel so fyndt (= feindlich) Ixxxviii 25; wie
nach (== nah) es jm sy xcix 87 ; Jceym gehorsam Ixxxv 8!7 ; with
the phrases goch (= jah, eilig), wol, not sein; with beitten,1
dienen,2 gef alien; similarly in such an expression as: das man
jm fluch bosz schwur Ixxvii 66 ; with gefiigen, gelten, glichen,
glouben,3 gehoren,4 vermahlen : w er die vermdhlet synem lib Ixiv
60; vergiinnen,3 nemen, raten, bescheren,3 schmeichen ( =
schmeichelri) , trowen, truwen, tfin, wichen, bezalen, zemen,5
verzyhen.

Note. A clear instrumental dative, rare even in MHG.,6 occurs
in : er sy alien dingen witzig xxxvi 4.

7. Interesting echoes from MHG. are found in the continued
construction of many verbs with the dative:
(ge) bresten : jm brest hie zitlich gut iii 13.

was 7 im gebrist Vorr. 30.

bekommen (= begegnen) : das jm vil lilt beJcum Ixxx 14.
lassen 8: Zum bdttel loss ich mir der wile Ixiii 78.
(ge)lieben (=placere) : Dem wisen liebt eynfaltiheit xviii 30.

wie jm gelyebt Ivii 33.
lieben (=amare): wer mich lieb hat / den lieb ouch ich \\

xxii 17.

luppen (=lupfenQ) : dem fldschlin luppen Ixxxi 4.
lusen (= prugeln) : Des soil man jm mit kolben lusen xc 12.
rufen 10 : ob sie morn ruff jm xxxi 32.

1 MHG. regularly with the genitive, Paul 263. The example in the Nwrren-
schiff is : Do jm gott beittet xxv 15. Elsewhere it is intrans.
8 Does not occur in the sense of verdienen, as in MHG.
3 See also the chapter on verbs.
* Occurs once with zu •' der hymel ghfirt nit zu Den gensen xiv 29 f .

5 Still strong, as in MHG.

6 Paul 249c. The usual construction in MHG. is with ze, cf. Lexer.
T Cf. 2, footnote to gelangen.

8 This construction is not recorded elsewhere, apparently.

9 Zarncke, p. 426 n. to this passage, gives this meaning, i. e., aufheben uvn
daraus zu trinken. Elsewhere in MHG. lupfen is always transitive, cf. Lexer.

10 Transitive use first appears in late MHG. ; previously the dative had been
the regular construction (Paul 248; Zarncke p. 364 n. to xxxi 32).

16 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

sparen *: Dar vmb / das jm got spart Ixxxvi 16.
trowen 2 : er manchen trowt x 3.
volgen 3 : volgen gutem ratt viii title.

unwillen (= nauseare 4) : so unwillest du der selen min
Ixxxiv 24.

8. A peculiarly striking use of the ethical dative, due perhaps,
to a violent ellipsis, occurs in : Dar vmb stund kunig Salomon Synr
muter vff / von synem iron xc 28.

9. A kind of dative by attraction, to which Zarncke 5 calls
attention as being not uncommon in MHG. when a preposition
with an infinitive communicates its action to the intervening noun :
von falbem hengst striche c title in register (at end of first edi
tion) .

GENITIVE.

10. The most interesting case in the Narrenschiff from a his
torical point of view is the genitive, since it corresponds best to
the traditional MHG. usage, while showing unmistakable ten
dencies toward modern simplicity. In its most obvious use, as
the case of possession, further extended to the subjective idea with
verbal nouns, it is not different from the modern practise: eins
mullers thier i 34 ; das 1st alter narren gltrust xxxiv 7 ; Der
heylgen vdtter ler Vorr. 3 ; Vil seek die synt des esels dot xxx c ;
we have also the construction: Ein frilndes ratt viii 31.

11. With nouns formed from verbs we have an objective geni
tive, as in all periods of the language: ervolgung guter sytten
Vorr. title; sin selbst bewerung xv 24; vnsers zu lend ist keyn
hoffen cviii 44 ;. erfarung oiler land Ixvi title ; verretery der land

1 Zarncke, p. 431 n. to this passage, suggests that this may be a Latinism
(cf. parcere) or an ellipsis, the dative being a real indirect object.

2 Probably typographical error for manchem, since the antecedent is singu
lar, cf. Zarncke p. 318, n. to this passage.

8 Regularly with the dative in all meanings. Nevertheless its auxiliary is
haben (as in Luther) : Hett er gefolget viii 25.

4 Meaning given by Zarncke, p. 429 n. to this passage.
6 Op. cit., p. 443 n. to c title.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 17

Ixxxiii 14 ; also when the construction is extended to nouna not so
immediately suggesting the verbal idea: syner zungen meister
xix 34 ; man hatt jr acht 1 ib. 54 ; die hant der geistlicheit nit acht
Ixxiii 87 ; durch guts willen (= von Qeldes wegeri) lii b; des zum
ziigen (= als Zeugen dessen) cxi 23.

12. The use of the genitive to denote a specific modification of
an idea — what might be termed a genitive of specification — was
well established in MHG.,2 and persists in the Narrenschiff,
although it is in many cases very difficult to distinguish from
other similar uses. Such instances as the following may perhaps
be grouped most satisfactorily under this heading:

Will anders er mit eren stan lix 8.

Vil hant des (= darilber) brieff vnd sygel gut Wie das sie

sint von edelm blut Ixxvi 51 f.
Der vatter hat keynr syppschafft frog 3 cii 88.

13. We may perhaps most conveniently explain the use of
the genitive with certain adjectives as being immediately related
to the genitive of specification:

behend4: Der messen kunst was er behend Ixvi 28.
blosz: Der ist der synn vnd wiszheit blosz xxi c.
fry5: Der happen vnd des Jcolben fry Yorr. 132.
mtissig 6: Der ging der narren mussig wol Ixviii 34;

Der selben wer gut mussig gon c 29.
wert7: der eren, geldes, bessers wert.
gewisz 4: gewiss der set Ixxxv 140 ; syn (= dessen) ungewisz

Ivii 84.

/ 14. A construction closely related to the foregoing is the instru
mental genitive. Typical examples are : bdttlens er sich nert Ixx

1 Occurs in MHG., but more commonly with tif or zet cf. Zarncke p. 335 n.
to this passage.

2 Paul 259 et passim,.

3 MHG. fragen takes the genitive, Paul 263.
* Paul 266.

6 Paul 259 ; cf . also under prep. vor.

'Zarncke, p. 409 n. to Ixviii 34, cites examples of this construction from
H. Sachs and Seb. Franck; cf. also Paul 266.

7 Paul 261.

18 77/r

28; but also: all welt will mit Idttlen neren sick Ixiii 3; and:
vil neren vsz dem bdttel sich Ixiii 93 ; keyns mit dem tmdern halt
mitlyden syner schwdr xcix 78. In one instance this genitive
is replaced by a prepositional phrase: Wer von syner sack will

15. The j'vmlive .»!' rli;ir:ir|eristic IH used rather more lYeeK

than in modern German. Examples are Der sy guter dyng Vorr.
135 ; Die sint des adels von Bennfeldt Ixxvi 46.

16. The i-emliNc of quality (c. »/., <fcr rillrr i/nolcr siniir;
linn1* innii : frisf tfn-ii'r irinlrr; ;nul |)lir:iscs willi IIKI nclirrlt'i . ullrr
hand, ••!.-.), ;i \.T\ similar con Inn-lion lo tlio his!, docs not. o<vnr
in Ilir A (//-/v//.sr hi ft. pn»|i:ihlv l>cc;i ns«- II ran!, simply lound no
occnsion I.. us(^ it; il, Imd not died on! ;il llml time, IMI! \v;is <piih-
common unhl much hilcr.

17. The nse of tlid "-rniliyo to express cause, iVc.pienl in
M1KJ.,1 isslill common in (he A ,/r/v//.sr// ///':// II>I<I<TS sf,'rl><'ii \\\\\

51; weniy sind syn (mmdavon) warden rich* cii 62; Nabal wer
syns gsp6ts gelont xlii 28 ; des (•• deswegenf deshalb, etc.) occurs
ahoul thirls times: dw verdurbt num nit Ixiii 84; the last is as
often expressed by darvmb, however, showing the tendency to

abandon the old construction.

18. A further extension of (lie causal idea ma\ he seen in the
use of the genii ive after the following adject iyes:

geert: //*/////• ln»s:. In-il iril ich xi/n //<•(•/•/ y 10; Die

solicits rales hoch </<v/7 \ii 10;
fron: V^r.v fiilxchen. ordrn /»///. ich. fro \ 128 ;
swfir 4 : Myrrha wer nit Adonis swdr (— schwanger) \\\\ .r
urtrlitz6: des urtriitx oiii !!)<>;

to which we may add the phrase: dee (— dessen) stroff oxi 82.

I Paul 207.

II Paul 254, 207.
' 75. 250,

4 But of.: von Wtvn tohwfir xlviii 2.

' Zarnoke, p, 451 n. to thia passage, quotes examples from H. Sachs; of.
MHO. wrdrtawmt \vith gmitive, Paul 265,

Tin' tfi/ntax of Brant's Narrawhiff 19

Note. In the same connection we may logically remark that

Iho phrase frond ban, which we .should expect to find \\ilh the
CMIISM! ^vnilivo, recpiire^ :i pivpoMliniuil rxpres i.m :,/,//-,/„ Nii I;

dor ab ex 1; Mancher hat von sym reden freyd; we find also
sorg han with vmb cv 64; with vff xlviii 77; ratt pflegen with
rmh l viii b; Ion vmb vii 20. Further instances of preposi
tional phnises where we should oxpec! cnusiil irenitives nro: At/nni

wer nit von <>//m L-ln/nm. bisz Gestossen vsz dem Paradisz xii 13 ;

Da* fi/))f)' ilninch-fn trcr ron iri/n. \vi Si>.

19. The genitive of material, which was extensively usoxl in

MIKJ.,'-! is iii.ich resh-iclcd in 1 ho Xarrcnscli /'//'. occiirriiiij: oulv in
.such expressions :is: Drr Itiil ror fiillitiKj sirli ,/cr N//.V: :t cvi kj:>;

mil /n'l/ltfrr </<'sr/i n'/J'l ' X'orr. 1 ; alles adels Idr Ixxvi 61 ; it is not

found \\ilh IKMMI . ;i in Ml 1C. <l<i; r/oAA'.v //'c'/r.

20. The Partitive genitive is used in the Narrenschiff much

sis in M1KJ. M.xjnnples nre: fin /)/c;//m///vr/ Jrffks xliv 20;

m* gelts Ixiii 94; Per (— deren) sytzen vier vnd zwenttig noch

'Sri (.v/V) Mrnsinirti Ixiii ,'{;{ ; I'// //(/r/r//. //v/j/r/ /r//.svr .v/;//

xlvii 28; / // //\////.s xvi 6; so vil der down Vorr. 50; Der sclben
man em teil hie fyndt* Vorr. 127; was ere,9 was gliicks, //v/,v
gewins etc. ; Der jm nye leydes hatgethan xb; Des glychen Plato
ouch geschach xxxv 19 ; Des glichen vor nie wiirt gehdrt ciii 150 ;

Dt-r must t/fs ini-rhs jnn orcn Initi"1 xxxvi .'50; jr kfi/nfr* \\ 17;

jr i/c,der Ixxiii 81; der (—deren) dheyner Ix 10; alter sorgen
keyn xcix 188 ; So drincken wir dann nit des b6sten9 Ixxxi 23 ;

so jilso wild snperl:i!i\<^, hut limited .MS in modern (Jernuin: allcr

meyst xxi 24; vffs aller best (saepw*) ; aller mynst Ixv 65.

Note. Instances in which the partitive genitive, strictly re
quired in MHG., is replaced by another construction are: cyn

hrnl xlvi I}!); \'<ni. In'irlicni huh irli r//vwww hurl i .r. ; Mm

1 Of. MHO, 8i wurden d#8 *e rAte. ' 76. 250.

•Paul 250. «76. 253.

"76. 203. '//>. 202.

4 76. 250. • 76. 254.

1 The only occurrence of this construction, etten and trinckcn requiring the

elsewhere in the

20 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

hat man dock der gschrifft so vil Von alter vnd von nuwer ee
(= Testament) xi 15 ; er von dem appfel asz xii 12 ; Jcouffen wyn
noch brot xix 44;. this is true with numerals where a qualifying
adjective intervenes/ as in: vier kleyne ding cvi 13; with vil,
which has thus lost its old substantive character to this extent and
is used as a numeral: vil andern (dat. plu.) Ixix 12 ; jnn vil joren
Ixxxv 12 ; vile Landt (metri causa) Ixvi 49 ; but with a qualifying
adjective the genitive is always used after vil (about 50 cases
occur which are certainly genitive, including those in which a
qualifying adjective is present, e. g., vil falscher ler ciii 75), and
in the majority of instances it is impossible to determine the case
because of the confusion in inflectional endings; similarly, with
all, me (mer) , manch, wenig the usage is divided, showing a
partial decay of the old construction.2 Statistics would obviously
be worthless.

21. The genitive is occasionally more loosely used in the
Narrenschiff, as in all periods of the language, as an adverb, es
pecially in time phrases : der richman asz des morndes jnn der hell
xvi 46; eyns mols xix 81 (but also frequently eyn mol xiii 11) ;
morgens; nachts; der wile.

22. A relatively large number of verbs which in MHG. gov
erned the genitive retain it in the Narrenschiff. Here are to be
found such traditional Indo-European constructions as the geni
tive with verbs indicating mental processes : dencken, entpfinden,
vergessen, etc. ; with verbs indicating plenty or lack (separation),
akin to the partitive idea : entberen, falen, bedtirf en ; verbs in
which the causal idea is prominent: eren, frowen; many reflex
ives, as sich vlissen ; besides many instances in which the genitive
exercises a looser, less easily classified defining function. In the
following list only those verbs are noted which are restricted to
the genitive. Those having a double construction or a choice of
constructions are treated in the special chapter on verbs.

1 But when the numeral follows, the usage is as in NHG. : vnser schwestern
vier Ixxvii 92; der syben wunder eyns Ixxxv 105.

2 For further example of substitution cf. 25, an.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 21

entberen *: Es ist der narren gut entbern xlii a.

jr beid entberen Ixxix 14.

dencken2: die wenig dochtent myn Vorr. 93.
beduncken (sich)3: der bduht sick syner narrheyt cxi 55.
diirf en 4 : sie dorffen sir off ens nicht vi 8.
f alen 5 : Des mancher fait Ixxv 4.
entpfinden * : er entpfand der gewaltigen handt Ivii 54.

der hdchlen er entpfyndt Ixxi a ;

das er das entpfindt vii 7.
flyssen (sich) 6 : Wer wyns vnd feiszt dings flysset sich xvi 49 ;

but once : er sich druff flyszt vi 4.
frowen (sich)7 : Der sich syns vnglucks frowt x 4.
fiiren (= feiern) 8 : Der studentten ich ouch nit fur xxvii 1.
uberheben (sich)Q: Sins gliicks sich nyemans vberhab xxiii 27.
beklagen (sich) : Nestor (et al.) beklagensichdes, etc. xxvi 34.
abkommen 10 : des esels Icumen ab Ixxviii 10.
lachen: So man sin lach Ixvii 7;

Wer lachet des eyn ander weynt Ixviii 15.

1MHG. eribem regularly takes the genitive (Paul 264). Confusion due to
the use of es (nom., gen. sing.) seems to be the origin of the following cases
of apparent accusative: Der mftsz hfiren / das er gem eritbur xli 4; danck
vnd Ion entbern xcvi 14. This also appears in Luther (Lehmann 27) : die
Gaste warens nicht werth Matt. 22, 8 ; Gallion nahm sichs nichts an Ap. 18,
17; So wird ers Schaden leiden 1 Cor. 3, 15; da hatten es etliche ihren Spott
Ap. 17, 32.

2 Rare, generally replaced by gedencken, q. v. under verbs. Cf. also: den
selben noch zudencken Vorr. 102.

3 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 265.

4 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263. An apparent accusative
occurs in: Der da/rff gluck / vnd wetter gut cix 12.

5 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263. One instance of an with
this verb occurs: Wann er nit hett gefdlet dran Ixxv 28.

6 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263. Several instances of vff
with this verb occur : er sich dar vff flyszt vi 4.

T Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263. The NHG. construction
with auf also appears once : mancher frowt sich / vff frdmbde hab xciv a.

8 For form cf. Zarncke p. 356 n. to this passage.

» Perhaps the analogy to MHG. uber werden with the genitive ( Paul 263 )
may be the explanation of this construction.

10 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263.

22 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

<•»

vermessen (sick) : sollen sie sich des vermessen Ixxx 25.
war nemen: es nam nyeman sm war xiii 92.
pflegen x : sie grosser wiszheyt pflegen xlvi 7.
(be)riimen (sich) : Mancher ~berumbt sich grosser sach li 13

(replaced once by vsz w. dat.? cf. 24).

verrtichen (sich)2: Gott des menschen sich verrucht xxiii 7.
schonen3: Mancher der sytten wenig schont ix 21.

Eyn alter narr synr sel nit schont v 33.
versehen (sich)4: ich mich des versich ex 15.
spotten: Die juden spotten vnser xcv 46.
(ver) sumen (sich) : ich hett des schiffes mich versumbt

Ixxviii 3.
vergessen 5: syn selbs vergessen Iviii title.

des fldschlins vergessen Ixxx 26.
waltten6: Tdeynes heres / walttet got xcix 166.
warten 7: Der letsten (pfrunden) wart er jnn der hell xxx 32.

yeder wart Der vrteil die er geben hat ii 25.

Der wardt des schlegels vff dem tach xxiii 4.

Gott Jr (gen. plu.) warttet xxv 9.

(also once with vff and the accusative: er musz warten

vff bescheyt Ixii 22.
verwegen (sich) 8: Procris der hecJcen sich verwdg xii 52.

1 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 264.

2 MHG. ruochen regularly takes the genitive, Paul 263.

8 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 264. The analogy of spwen,
schonen to Latin parcere is probably responsible for the dative in: der Tceym
Indt geschont Ixxxv 86.

* Cf. Paul 266.

6 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 264. The accusative, how-
ever, is regular in MHG. when another genitive is dependent upon the first
(Paul 264 a. 2) : sie vergisz jrs hertzen leyd liii 14.

• Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263.

7 MHG. wcvrten is used with both genitive and dative (Paul 248, 263), but
no instances occur in the Ncvrrenschiff which are certainly dative.

8 Zarncke, p. 325 n. to this passage, gives examples of genitive and accus
ative from late MHG., and other references.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 23

werden ems,1 jnn 2: 80 werden sie des kouffes eis (sic) Ixi 29.
weynen: Wer lachet des eyn ander weynt Ixviii 15.
gewonen 3: er hat sin nit gewont ix 22.

1 Probably does not occur earlier than H. Sachs, cf. Zarncke p. 398 n. to
Ixi 29.

2 Paul 260. No certain examples of genitive occur, but the following may
be cited as showing a reflection of the MHG. usage, the apparent accusative
being due to the confusion in forms explained in the footnote to entberen:
Das wiirt er jn dem altter jnn xvi 10; das nyemari Das jnnen werd li 32;
examples such as: Das man me nuwer mdr werd jnn xi 29 do not prove
anything.

3 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 263. The MHG. gen. e's (cf.
footnote to entberen) seems to be preserved in: ders nit hat gewont v 34.
So also with erbarmen: das es got erbarm Ixiii 6. Cf. also jnn werden and
footnote.

GHAPTEE II. PREPOSITIONS.

Note. It will be necessary to catalogue only those prepositions
the syntax or meaning of which in the Narrenschiff varies from
the present norm, since in the main the two usages coincide.

23. Preposition with the accusative:

(lurch with the accusative occurs very frequently to express
cause, agency, etc.: durch Sebastiami Brant Vorr. tit.
Dana entpfing nit durch das golt xii 60 ; durch gotts
willen xx 1Y ; wibe durch gutz wille lii tit. ; man geb
jn durch (= wegen) jr wiszheyt nut xix 61.

f iir is still written (= NHG. vor) 1 with the accusative, al
though once we find: Wer vor frowen vnd kynder wil
reden xlix 1. It occasionally occurs in the sense of
anstatt or lieber als, as in: fur wyn das wasser xxxviii 5.

gegen seems to be restricted to the accusative, cf. gen, 24.

on (once an) is written for MHG. ane, NHGr. ohne: on mich;
on das.2

vmb retains its traditional spelling. It occurs in the senses of
fur: guts vmb bosz Ixviii 12 ; der Ion drumb xxii 31 ;
of wegen very frequently: mich schelten vmb min nutz-
lich ler Vorr. 81 ; vmb eyn byssen brot xlvi 39 ;. dar
vmb (cf. 17", des) for 1STHG. deswegen; Eyn schadlich
ding ist vmb den wyn xvi 13 ; es stiind vmb die Jcynd
bos vi 31 ; less commonly in the sense of von: das er
dar vmb nit weiszt Ixxx 12 ; and nach: wenn eyn kleyn
zyt vmbhar gat (= nach einiger Zeit) Ixxxi 31. It ex
presses the measure in: es fait vmb eyn burenschritt
Ixv 52.

24. Prepositions with the dative:

ab 3 has been preserved in many examples : ab dem hafen Ixxxi
50 ; ob tusend sturben drab cii 12.

1 Paul 270. 2 Cf. 26 for on with the genitive.

•Paul 271.

(24)

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 25

by occurs in time phrases where NHG. would use some other
preposition : by den joren vi 9 ; by jren tag en xli 18.

gen x is still used with the dative : gen jm xxviii 14 ; gen mit-
temtag Ixvi 44; gen dem hagel, dem wynd, der erden,
etc.

mit 2 is used peculiarly in : het ich in mit sym namen gnent
Vorr. 63.

ob 3 occurs once: ob der hant Ixxix 15.

vsz is used where NHG. would replace it by some other con
struction in: vsz dem eebruch rumen sich xxxiii 28.

von in phrases has begun to replace the partitive genitive.4
It is used much as in OTIG., except to express agent,
where durch is more common.

vor 5 is the regular form of this word with the dative, although
we have one case of confusion in: jm fur Ivi 31. It is
used occasionally in the sense of wegen, as in NUG. :
vor wyszheyt xlii 9; and once with fry: Vor btriignisz
syner frowen fry xxxii 23. 6

zfi 7 occurs in several phrases which would seem peculiar today :
zu dem schiff schwymme Vorr. 22 ;. schiessen zu dem
zil xix 66 ; zu dem Icouff gut Vorr. 54 ; zu nacht ib.
90; zu husz (= nach House) vi 45, xxxiv 14; zu eym
zeichen (= als Zeicheri) viii 16 ; Die jn erschlug zu dot
xii 18 ; zu hant (= so fort) xii 23 ; Jceyn arbeit dett nie
gut zur yl (= eilig) xlviii 49 ; zu ruck (= hinterruclcs)
ci 6.

1 Paul 270. The Narrenschiff prints gon in one instance.

2 This preposition is frequently used without an object (a possible con
struction even in MHG., cf. Zarncke, p. 331 n. to xvii a) : Wer gut hat / vnd
ergetzt sich mit xvii a; Als ob man gott wolt zwingen mitt Ixv 89.

NOTE. Another case of prepositions used without objects (i. e., as adverbs)
occurs in: noch (= nach) als vor (saepius) , which has analogues in NHG.

3 Paul 271.

4 Cf. 20 note.

6 Paul 270. Cf. also 23.

6 Cf. 15.

7 The form zu (zu) is printed three times, perhaps due to the regular
MHG. spelling (and sound) ze.

26 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

Note. The adjective glichis treated as a preposition governing
the dative in such phrases as: glich eym ross xxxii 22. 1

25. Prepositions with both dative and accusative.

The distinction between the uses of the two cases is the same as
in all periods of the language.

an occurs in several phrases which are reminiscent of the more
definite use of this preposition in MHG. : an der sunn
iv 13 ; an beiden ougen blynt xxx 10 ; er fing am pfarrer
an xliv 31 ; an jrm bett2 Ivi 37 ; an Tcreyssen (= par
titive genitive 3) Ixvi 24 ; hie ist an narren kein gebiiist 4
Vorr. 4T ; Wo an dem pfening ist gebrust xviii 32 ;
dot an vergyfftem wyn cix 28.

hynder is used in its MHG. sense in the phrase hynder sich
(= zuruck or riickwarts) xl 16.

in with the accusative is used to express purpose occasionally 5 :
jn warnung (== zur Warnung) xii 24; Die zung die
brucht man in das recht xix 45. The accusative is
striking in : jnn manche wise Ixxxix 8.

vff is used more freely than in NHG. : vff das (== damit dass)
ii 9 ; in time phrases : vff eynen tag (saepius) ; and in
the elliptical phrase: vff jrdeschs yeder narr erblindt
(= in Bezug auf Irdisches) Ivxi 128.

under (still spelled as in MHG.) occurs frequently in the
phrase: underwil (underwile).

26. Prepositions with the genitive.

glich (originally an adjective, as in glich wie, als) is often used
as a preposition governing the genitive, especially with

1 Cf. also glich with the genitive, 26.

2 Regularly used with lett until the xvi cent., cf. Zarncke p. 392 n. to this
passage.

3 Cf. 20 note. Zarhcke, p. 407 n. to this passage, quotes an example from
Tristan.

* Another instance of substitution for the genitive, cf. 2 footnote to gelangen.
5 Zarncke, p. 320 n. to xii 24, describes this as a Latinism, and cites
examples from Vindler, Geiler, Hugo v. Trimberg and Luther.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 27

pronouns x : er allzyt flisset sich Wie yederman syg
synen (= sein, seiner} glich cv 14.

on is apparently used as a preposition governing the genitive,2
or at least as a prefix: sie syn soltten wynes on / vnd
alles das do truncken macht xvi 32 f . ; wassers on lix
23 ; oiler sinnen on Ixxii 29.

27. The preposition is frequently placed at some distance from
its logical object, thus becoming formally an adverb, as in MHG.,3
and colloquially today : Wer will eym yeden drincken zu xvi 54 ;
Do er wart selbst gehenclcet an Ixix 20 ; Do man nit vor (— vor-
her) /eyn zanck vmb hob Ixxi 4; or it may follow the noun, as
in: den berg vff Ivi 53; jm fur ib. 31; trostes an Ixv 85.

28. The behavior of prepositions used as prefixes (separable)
is practically identical with the present norm (except for their
position in the sentence, which is quite irregular), the preposition
giving up its original construction with a certain case in favor of
the case demanded by the whole verbal idea.

Note 1. With vor the dative is used exclusively.4
Note 2. The compounds noch stellen, noch stygen are used
with both dative and accusative: den (ace. s. m.) stellt er noch
Ixvi 145 ; Wer hohen dingen stellet noch xxiv 21 ; Die stygen
vogelndster noch xxxvi 14 ; otherwise noch in composition requires
the dative.

Note 3. By a natural confusionbekommenis printed once for
bykommen (== NHG. begegnen), with the dative.

29. The inseparable prefixes conform to the NHG. norm.

1Zarncke, p. 385 n. to xlix 24, cites many examples from other writers.

3 Paul 259. Cf. also 23 on. Zarncke, p. 329 n. to xvi 32 f., regards it
rather as a prefix. The original adverbial use appears in : Mttlen dut nyeman
we On dem / der es mfisz trilen Ixiii 81 f.

3 Paul 273. Cf. also 24 footnote to mit.

4 Cf. 24 vor.

GHAPTEE III.

30. The personal pronouns are in general the same as in
., with the exception that the MHG. forms min, din, sin, ir

are printed (in various ways: myn, etc., and sometimes extended
forms * : sinen, iren) . The NHG. forms of the genitive (meiner,
etc.) are not used.

31. Possessives are frequently accompanied by the definite
article, and then stand after the noun : der g fatter min Yorr. 45 ;
vsz der worJieit syn xi 19 ; while with parts of the body, etc., the
possessive is frequently replaced by the dative of the personal
pronoun, as in NHG. ; but in as many cases both the possessive
and the dative of the personal pronoun are used together: schmy-
eren yedem syn styrn xviii 23 ; Dem wiirt verbrennt syn consci-
entz xii 80.

32. The reflexive of the third person in the dative is still, as
in MHG.,2 the dative of the personal pronoun (im, ir, in) , sich

being confined to the accusative : Der wiirfft von jm das blut Vorr.
76 ; Das sie soldi lilt sol by jr han xli 12.

33. Either the demonstrative der die das,3 the interrogative
wer was,4 or welcher (weller) may be user as relative, whether
the antecedent, definite or indefinite, be omitted or not.5 The
usage is very free, as in MHG.,6 in the Narrenschiff : alls das man
jm bringt xvi 55 ; durch die / by eym sind xxxix 30 ; Es sindt
vff erd Die scliwdtzen xix 19 ; Durch sie wiirt kru das vor was

1 For detailed treatment of these c/. Zarncke p. 385 n. to xlix 24.

2 Paul 217.
s 76. 343, 1.
4 76. 343, 2.

6 The extended forms in the genitive (dessen, deren, derer, wessen) and in
the dative plural (denen) are not used in the Narrenschiff: Der sich des doch
nit nymet an Vorr. 62; Der sint vil tusent yetz verlom xxxi 33; Den fait jr
anschlag xliii 34; only two instances in the genitive plural and two in the
dative plural of the demonstrative occur; ddnen xcvii 8; denen ciii 135;
dern xcviii c; deren xcviii 29.

• Of. Paul 344.

(28)

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 29

schlecht ib. 46 ; das er gM / nymbt er zu zyt xxvi 64 ; Das er
nit syn will / das er ist xxix 34 ; welch wol <wil xxxii 3 ; der
. . . wan zu leben lust xliii 14 ; Der ist eyn narr / der macht
eyn fur Oder wer fackeln zilndet an xxviii 1, 3. The same
interchange occurs in the corresponding adverbs, do and wo being
used with apparently no distinction as relative adverbs, as in
MHG.

Note. As general double relative was is used in : was gwalt
hat / vnd vil gelt xlvi c.

34. An interesting survival which to the present time has not
completely disappeared from colloquial speech is the old relative
so 1: vnder alter creatur So hat vernunfft liv 17; Des lands so
man erJcundet hat Ixvi 46 ; sumnisz vnd schand so man yetz spurt
xcix 2 ; all die / so wiszheyt handt eruolget cvii 75.

35. The demonstrative pronouns do not differ in use from the
present norm except that the genitive singular of der 2 is occasion
ally replaced by the genitive of the personal pronoun, sin, as in
late MHO.3 : mancher will sin Jceyn wort han (== davon nichts
ho'ren) ex c.

36. Personal, relative, demonstrative and interrogative pro
nouns having inanimate antecedents may, when used with a prepo
sition, be replaced by the corresponding adverb, but the usage in
the Narrenschiff is very irregular in this.

37. Various other pronouns may be mentioned for the sake
of completeness:

lit, nut appear for MHG. icht, nicht (NHG. nichts). The
latter is never confused with the particle of negation : nit.4

yeman (yemans yemens) and yederman are always unin-
flected.

1 Paul 343, 2, a. 2.

2 Of. 33 footnote 5.

3 Paul 222.

4 Cf. Shumway The Verb in Thos. Murner, i, p. 39 footn. 3.

30 The Syntax of Brant's Narenschiff

vil and me, originally adjectives, are often used as pronouns,1
hence may or may not be construed with the genitive.2

38. A peculiarity to be noted in connection with the article
is its omission where it would be required in ordinary language:
(dem or einem) ScJiwdtzer ist nut zu reden vil xix 49 ; Hie findt
man der welt gantzen louff Yorr. 53 ; an der sunn vnd fur
(= feuer) iv 13 ; 3 Die best gezierd / vnd hohster nam ix 25.

1 Paul 212.

2 This is treated in detail in 20 and note.

3 Luther often omits the article in such a case ( where two distinct persons
or things are referred to) e. g.: an der Sonne und Mond u/nd Sternen Luke
21, 25.

CHAPTER IV. VERBS.

39. Intransitive verbs occurring in the Narrenschiff which are
now either entirely obsolete or no longer used intransitively are:
gebresten, fiiren (= NHG. feiern), vergiinnen, hoffen: wer
hofft vff eyns andern dott xciv 9 ; jehen : man gyecht xxiii 9 ;
lassen : er soil von synen sunden Ian xxxi 3 ; lieben, lonen, lugen :
lug fur dich wol xlvii 30; raten, rfifen, verstan, werfen:
mit steyn werffen xlii b.

40. Impersonal are: gebresten, gedencken, gelieben (==

gef alien), beniigen, gach sin1: Jm wer zu vrteiln nit so goch
(= eilig) ii 20 ; schwigen: ml wager (= besser) dir geschwygen
wer xxviii 22 ; wundern with an: des (= deswegen) ist zu
wundern nit daran vi 47.

41. Reflexive are: 'bruchen, bedencken: Het Adam sich be-
docht vor basz xii 11 ; Der bdencfy sick wol/ ee dann er buw xv 20 ;
verdingen, (be)duncken: Die duncJcent sich syn etc. ciii 14;
flyssen, began : ml bgont sich wol Ixiii 85 ; glichen : wollust
glychet sich Eym wib 1 1 f . ; uberheben, klagen 2: Idagent sich
Ixiii 5 ; geliben (= leiblich gut verpflegt sein 3) : was sich
gelibt xxxviii 64; lyden 4: Der lyd sich / so man die (i. e., die
Wunde) vffbrech xxxviii 15 ;annemen,5 verrftchen, (be)riimben,
schelten : der sich mit eynem trunckenen schillt Ixviii 4 ; gesoln
(= Seelenheil genieszen3) : das gesolt sich xxxviii 64; stehlen:
Hep stielt sich ab vi 84; (ver)sumen: das er sich sum Ixxx 13;
8umbt er sich an eym Tdeynen stuck xii 22 ; verwegen, beziigen.

42. Verbs with which there is a choice of various constructions
in the Narrenschiff are :

achten (also acht haben) :

with the accusative : Keyn bessere Icunst achten sie nut xxvii

1 Paul 198.

3 Transitive in MHG., cf. Paul 241.

8 Zarncke, p. 374 n. to this passage, gives this meaning.

4 Also transitive, as in NHG. 5 Cf. also 42.

(31)

32 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

20 ; sie keyn scham noch ere me acJit xxxiii 51 ; Die
jugent acht all kunst gar Tdeyn xxvii 7 ; Wer sick fur
ein narren acht Vorr. 41 ; Das er nit wis sich achten
soil ib. 36;

with the genitive -1 : Das sie der rehten kunst nit achten xxvii
11; die hant der geistlicheit nit acht Ixxiii 87; Des
priesterschafft wenig acht xvi 34;

with vff and the accusative: achten kein frombden ratt viii

9 ; Der acht vff gluck nut viii 29.
(be)geren 2:

with the genitive: eigen nutz des er begert x 26; Der erber-
keyt man do nit bgert c 22 ; hut accusative with a de
pendent genitive, as in MHG. : 3 Der furst die kron des
kunigs gert Ixxxii 36 ;

with noch: nyemd dar noch frogt noch gdrdt ciii 127;

with zu: je me man die zu grunden gdrt Ivii 81 ; Do wir all

begeren zu Ixxxv 68.
bruchen 4 :

with the accusative : ( Wachs) Das brucht Vlisses vff dem mer
xxxvi 31; Der ander brucht syn fry en will Ivii 56;

reflexive with the genitive: Wer eygens koppfs sich bruchen

will xxxvi 26.
gedencken :

with the genitive: die der jch gedacht Yorr. 91; Ich gantz
nit jr gedencken wyl ib. 124 f . ;

impersonal 5 with the dative : mir gedenckt / das etc. Ixxvi c ;

1 In a few cases the genitive may be regarded as partitive after wenig, nut,
etc. But cf. nut and the accusative, above.

* 2 MHG. gern takes the genitive regularly, Paul 263. The compound begem
is late MHG., Dietz p. 230.

3 Paul 264 a. 2. For apparent ace. in: nut das er begerdt xxiv 18, cf. 22
footnote to entberen.

4 MHG. with ace. or gen., Lexer. Cf. Zarncke p. 371 n. to xxxvi 26 for con
temporary examples.

B Zarncke, p. 419 n. to this passage, says that this construction, unknown in
MHG. except in the passive, appears in the XVI century, and quotes examples
from Murner and Fischart, as well as examples of dencken.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 33

with an and the accusative: Das er an die set gedenckt xxxi

24;
with vff and accusative: Vff das / er vor nie hat gedacht

xcvi 26.

dun, besides occurring very often as an auxiliary, is used in
the senses of machen, stellen, as in modern dialectal speech ;
reflexive : sich dun (= gehen) vi 63.

erben :

with the accusative : Bulgarus erbt synen sun xciv 19 ;
with the genitive Eyn dienst magt die jr frowen erbt Ixiv 62.

glouben l :

with the accusative : der yedes schwdtzen gloubt ci 2 ;
with the dative: gloub mir ii 18; Wer guttem rott nit folgt

vnd gloubt xiii 28 ; Wer yedem narren glouben will

xi a (doubtful: Der nit hort wiszheit vnd jr gloubt

xi 26) ;
with the genitive: glouben dem schlangen siner wort ci 31;

der geschrifft glouben xi If.;

with in2: Dar vmb gloubt der nit recht jnn got Ixv 29;
with vff and accusative: Der vff das gstirn solch glouben hat

Ixv 30.
halten alone (= existimare), with fur and in vff sich halten

is used as in NHG. ;
reflexive with the genitive 3 : disz welt Sich vast des kollschen

bottschen helt xlviii 86 ; Der sun des vatters halttet

sich (== dhnelt dem Vater) xlix 15.

helfen4:

with the accusative : Was hulff ein menschen das etc. xxiv

23 ; Was hulff dich / das etc. ib. 25 ;
with the dative : Sie hulff en jm nit iii 20 ; jm helfen xc 5 ;

1 MHG. with dat. of pers., gen. or ace. of thing. Cf. Paul 263, 264.

2 Zarncke, p. 320 n. to xii 24, calls this a Latinism.

3 Goedeke, p. 90 n., quotes an example from Facetus.

4 The MHG. distinction between the use of dat. and ace. (Paul 241;
Zarncke p. 341 n. to xxiv 25) is kept up in the Narrenschiff.

34 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

with the genitive l : yeder starb a\m selben we Des er meynt

helffen yedermann.
hiiten2:

with the accusative (supplemented by vor with the dative) :

vor dem man sich hutt ix 8 (10 times in all) ;
with the genitive : der hutt der hewschreck xxxii a ; Wer

synr frowen hutten dut ib. 2 (twice only).
lonen:

with the accusative: der all ding lont Ixxxv 85 (once) ;
with the dative: lonen eym i 24.
lugen :

with the genitive (or dative ?) Eyn yeder lug vor (= vorher)

syner schantz Iviii 13 ;
with fur: lug fur dich wol xlvii 30 ;
with zu: Sie lugen ubel zu den sachen ciii 85.
manen 3:

with the genitive: Der sy eyn yeder narr gemant cxi 85 ;
with an: Sie manten mich dran Ixxx 3.
annemen:

with the accusative: Ee er die priesterschafft nam an Ixxiii

40;
reflexive with the genitive: Der sich des dock nit nymet an

Vorr. 62.
genieszen 4 :

with the accusative : Syn duschen er genusset nit Ixxxix 31 ;
with the genitive: Der selb / syns tuschens gnusset nitt

Ixxxix b; Wes eyner will das er geniesz lix 20.
beniigen 5:

with the accusative: Do mit losz ich benugen mich i 11 ;

Keynen benugt me / mit stfm stand Ixxxii 61 ;
with the dative: Eym yeden syn armut benug xciv 16.

1 Cf. Paul 266.

2 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 264.

3 Regularly with the genitive of the thing in MHG., Paul 263.

4 76. 263. For apparent ace. in: das nit nyessen Ixvii 88, cf. 22 n. to
entb&ren.

6 MHG. genuegen is impers., trans., with the subjective idea in the genitive,
Paul 241, 265.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 35

(ge) schwigen x : .

with the accusative: die worheyt schwigen civ 4;
with the genitive : Ich schwig der / den das gyt freud Ixii 31 ;

Ich will der ander geschwigen Ix 25 ;
with the accusative of person, genitive of thing: Ich will des

gelts jnn (ace. s. m.) gschwige Ixxv 42;
with zu : Dar zu sunst yederman swigt still xix 2 ; Schwygt

dar zu recht xciii 28.
sorgen :

with the accusative: ick sorg den vnderganglc ciii 64;
with the (causal) genitive: sorgen grosser schwer xxxviii

46 ; Des libs wir sorgen Ixxxv 46 ;
with vff and accusative : Der sorg Tiatt vff die grebnisz Ixxxv

98.
sparen:

with the dative 2: Dar vmb / das jm got spart Ixxxvi 16 ;
with the accusative (indirect object in the dative) : der weysz

nit went er solches spart iii 3.
verstan :

with the accusative as in NHG. ;
with the genitive : Die des rechten nit version ii 3 ;
reflexive with vff and accusative as in NHG-.
vorchten :

with the accusative: vorchten den herren (= Gott) Ivi 43;
with the genitive: Abraham vorcht synr f row en xxxiii 85;
reflexive (absolute) : vorchten sich Ixxxvi 10; with vor and

dative: vor fall sich vorchten xxvi 70.
weren 3:

with accusative of thing: Alls ubel wechszt das man nit wert
vi 24;

1 MHG. versivigen takes double ace., or gen. of thing, Paul 244 ; Zarncke p.
452 n. to civ 4.

2 A Latinism, according to Zarncke, p. 431 n. to Ixxxvi 16.

3 Zarncke, p. 301 n. to i 8, enumerates the constructions possible with this
verb (ace. of person, gen. or dat. of thing and dat. of person, gen. or ace. of
thing) and quotes an example (dat.-gen.) from Fischart. Paul, 241, 263, states
that the ace. of person, gen. of thing is regular in MHG. Cf. also 43 weren.

36 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

with dative of thing: das er dem narren (i. e., der Benen-
nung) wer Lxvi c;

with dative of person, genitive of thing: jnn (dat. p.) der

fliegen weren i 8.
wissen :

with the accusative: ich soldi kuntschafft weisz Vorr. 69 ;

with the genitive: Der vrsach weisz nyeman gentzlich Ivii
80 ; with vmb and the accusative : das er dar vmb weiszt
Ixxx 12.

wiinschen, ordinarily transitive; is used once with the geni
tive: Handier wunscht des glidi gouclcels1 xxvi 61.

43. The following verbs have a double construction:
bitten2:

with accusative of person, genitive of thing: Ich hab sie des

gebetten nit Ixxix 22.
vergiinnen 3:

with dative of person, genitive of thing : jm vergiinnen syner

ruw Ixxxv 67.
vber reden:

with accusative of person, genitive of thing: Wer sidi des

vber reden latt Iviii 27.
ruwen :

with accusative of person: Wer buwen will / das in nit ruw
xv 19 ; den ruwt xcvi c; genitive of thing: Sannabalach
syn spottes ruwt xlii 29.
schamen :

with accusative of person, genitive of thing : Die Dern andern
(sic) narren sich schammen xcviii c; Die gelerten
mussen sich schdme Jr ler vnd jres namen ciii 115.
bescheren :

with dative of person, genitive (or accusative?) of thing:
hab got eym guts beschert Ivii 7.

1 Regularly with the genitive in MHG., Paul 264.

2 Regularly with genitive of thing in MHG., Paul 263, 264.

3 Paul 264.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 37

(ent) (er) weren * :

with dative of person, genitive of thing: Das ich jnn (dat. p.)
wil der fliegen weren i 8 ; So werd jm das 2 nyemer
entwert Ivii 8;

with accusative of person, genitive of thing : Bisz er des hun
gers sich erwert Ixx 22.
bzalen :

with dative of person, accusative of thing: Das er jm bezal

das Ixxxvi 28.
beziigen:

with accusative of person, genitive of thing: ich mich des
beziig cxi 28.

44. The particle ge- has retained its full MHG. functions,
being used to give a verb either a perfective or momentary sense:
Eyn narr ist wer gesprechen dar xxix 31 ; conversely, it is
omitted with the past participles of verbs which already have a
perfective meaning: bracht, kumen, funden, geben, etc.3

SYNTAX OF MOODS.

45. Indicative and subjunctive are endlessly confused in the
Narrenschiff. The indicative replaces the conditional (subjunc
tive) in: Sie wellen tragen was mannen schdntlich was Vorr. 116 ;
we find both used in purpose clauses : Do mit myn gdicht nit wilrd
(indicative) gestrofft Vorr. 105 ; Das es werd (subjunctive) krusz
iv 11 ; das er sie losz (subjunctive) irr gon vi 5 ; in indirect
questions: Was die wyszheit hat, Wie sorglich sy der narren stat
Vorr. 51 f. ; wer er ist Wem er glich sy ib. 29 f.

46. The subjunctive is regular in the jussive and in condi
tions contrary to fact; and it is often used with rather nice dis
crimination in the potential: narrenspiegel in dem ein yeder narr

1 For detailed discussion cf. 42 weren and footnote.

2 For apparent ace., cf. 22 footnote to entberen,.

3 Cf. Paul 305^ 307, 371; Cf. also Shumway, The Verb in Thos. Humer, I,
pp. 29 ff .

38 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

sich foenn Vorr. 31 ; Ob es inn foch nit wol gefall ib. 72 ; Wer
worheit sag / verdienet Tiasz ib. 74.

47. The infinitive is used very loosely as a noun : molen 1
(= Gemalde) Vorr. 28 ; Leander nit syn schwymmen ddt xiii
49 ; Hett Phaeton syn faren gelon xl 21.

48. The original form of the infinitive (i. e., without zu 2)
occurs in a few instances: Besser ist hob en gut geberd ix 17;
vnderstont 3 schwymme Vorr. 22 ; Eyn ere was ettwan tragen
bert (= Barte) iv 3 ; Das jm vff heben ist zu ml xxiv 2 ; Der
bgert erfaren vil xxxiv 3 ; Lichter wer eym syn / in der wust lii
17 ; horen nit vff arbeiten Ixvii 80 ; wer hofft entgan xxxvi 29 ;
so invariably after meynen 4 : meynen do mit gef alien vii 15 ; and
(ge)tar: Nyeman getar Zu jnn sprechen xlvi 5 f. ; possibly a La-
tinism in : Der zeigt sich selbs eyn narren syn xix 8 ; as in NHG.
in: bettlen, schloffen gan; das er recht ler (=lerne) tun xxiii
12 ; Wann er ander sterben sicht (regularly with sehen) xxix 7.

49. There is one striking illustration of a possible construction
with lassen and a complementary infinitive: Sychem hett sie ge-
lossen gan xxvi 52.

50. Progressive present and past tenses, used in MHG.,5 occur
quite frequently: Dar durch sich mancher ist verfieren xxx 16;
Wann er von jm hulff wartend wer xxxviii 45 ; Noch dem man
bruchen wart den pflug Ixxxiii 40.

1 Cf. Zarncke p. 297 n. to this passage.

2 Cf. Paul 297.

3 But zu is used also: der vnderstot zu dienen xviii 1 f.

4 Cf. Zarncke p. 319 n. to x 23.

5 Generally only sein is used, but werden occurs twice, as in the example
noted. For the MHG. usage cf. Paul 287 and a. 1, 297 a. 1 ; also Zarncke p.
371 n. to xxxvii b. Cf. also A. W. Aron, Die " progressiven " formen im
Mhd. u. Friihnhd., Frankfurt a. M. 1914.

CHAPTER V. CONJUNCTIONS AND ADVEEBS.

51. In comparisons we find the correlatives: als . . . als1:
Wem nit der gmein nutz jst als werd Als eigen nutz x 26 f. ;
als ml als die affen Ixxiii 18; solch . . . als2: Mit soldier
mosz als er hat gethan ii 22 ; after comparatives and nut? dann
is used: die nut dan mit dorheit vmbgan Vorr. 11; me dan ein
hand vnd fusz iii 10 ; ee dann zytt viii 30 ; Dar vmb 1st nutzt
vndottlich imer Vnd bliblich by vns dann die ler vi 88 ; and also
wan (wen wann) : Jceyn liebern will ich / wen dich han xxxiii 46.

52. Many conjunctions in the Narrenschiff preserve older
usages :

als4: Do Roboam nit volgen wolt Den altten wysen / als er
soil viii 18; Landt als jszlant Ixvi 51.

dan 5 (dann den denn) : Den vordantz hat man mir gelan
Dann jch on nutz ml bucher han i af ; Des glich / will
mancher doctor syn Der nye gesach Sext (et al.) Dann
(= nur, ausser) das er hat eyn pyrment hut Ixxvi
65 ff.6 ; Man musz sprechen / er sy myn sun Dann
(= wenn) er dem schelme recht wurt thun v 24.

das is used alike for damit and so doss (both of which occur,
however) : die furen Im schne / das sie wol halb erfruren
Vorr. 75.

Note 1. The conjunction may he omitted in a result
clause: Der was als wytt Er ddt jm nut Ixxvi 42.
Note 2. By an ellipsis das may be causal : dort ist er

*Cf. Paul 318.

3C7. ib. 318, 348, 4.

3 Cf. ib. 319.

* Cf. ib. 348, 4. But wie occurs also: liep stiehlt sick ab wie ein diep vi
84. Als ob is used as in NHG.

B This conj. had begun to take the place of wan in the xv century; cf.
Koemheld: Die deutschen Konjunctionen " uxmde," "denn" u. " weil," diss.
Giessen, Mainz 1911, p. 45.

6 Cf. Zarncke p. 421 n. 1 to this passage.

(39)

40 The Syntax of Brant's NarrenscJiiff

ewig doit Das er nitt lernet kennen got xlvii 5 f., c/.:
das er nit strofft sin kynd Des strofft jn got vi 27.

do is still used as in MHG.1 : ich hob gewacht / Do die schley-
ffent der jch gedacht Yorr. 90 f. ; Do er was in Chal-
deen landt xxxiv 29.

do mit (twice with das) expresses purpose occasionally: Do
mit myn gdicht nit wilrd gestrofft Vorr. 105.

echt (== wenn nur) : Echt icht alley n mog machen ml xlviii 34.

ob 2 is used more loosely than in NHG. : Dar vmb soil man ~han
fur das best Ob eelut nit gern Jiaben gest xxxiii 76 ;<;
Ob man die all nit wissen kann So geb man es eym
armen man xx 15 f. ; ob joch and ob scJion are separ
ated: Ob es jnn joch nit w\ol gefall Vorr. 72; Ob ich
schon hab eyn groben synn i 25.

so 3 is used variously : most commonly interchangeable with
wann as a relative temporal conjunction: Wer gern well
, werden bald gesund Der zoug dem artzet recht die wund
Vnd lid sich / so man die vff brech xxxviii 15 4 ; so sie
sollten vast studieren gont sie bubelieren xxvii 5 f. ;
conditional: vil schdntlicher ist sie (i. e., Buhleri) dann
80 bulen dunt allt wib vnd mann xii 86 ; also in a pur
pose clause : Wer eynen will schlagen ee dann ers jm sag
So er sich nit geworen mag ci 8.

sydt alone or with das as in MHG.,5 or with als, may be tem
poral or causal: Sydt ich solch kuntschafft weisz Vorr.
69 ; Sidt das jm smeckt des smdres rouch Hi 23 ; Sydt
als das vnder der sunnen ist liv 22.

wann (three times wenn) is temporal or conditional (abso
lutely interchangeable with so in this construction) : Eyn
yedes ding me sterckung hatt Wann es bynander gsamlet
stat dann so es ist zerteilt xcix 135 ; Allexander / wann
er truncken was xvi 42 ; also in the sense of wenn nicht,

1 Cf. 33 and Paul 348, 1. 4 Cf. ib. 331.

2 Cf. Paul 354. 8 Cf. ib. 353, 3.

3 Cf. ib. 353, 8, 348, 3.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 41

nur 1: mancher dut battlen So er wol werclcen mocht . . .,
wann das er sich nit wol mag bucken Ixiii 25 ; Causal
use is not found.

wie (generally replaced in comparisons by als or dann) is used
more loosely than in NHG. : Wer grosz arbeyt vnd vnge-
mach Hat / wie er furdere frombde sack Ivii 1 f.

wil (wile, die wil, die wile) is still restricted to the MHG.
sense of wahrend2: Gib wil du lebst ii 23; Die wile
er gat Iv 5 ; but wile ich byn gott Ixxxviii 26 seems
to be approaching the causal sense of NHG.

wo as temporal conjunction has its analogue in NHG.

53. The peculiarities in the Narrenschiff in the use of adverbs
may be briefly noted :

alien thalb occurs once, xiv 15.

do as in MHG. is used as double relative (= da wo) : Die
suchten wag / do keyner was xxxvi 15.

draffter occurs once, xiii a.3

eynst occurs once in the sense of semel (not, as in NHG., ex
clusively quondam) : Eyn katz wann sie eynst angebissen
hat xxxiii 42.

ettwan is regularly used in the sense of quondam, as in MHG.

fast (vast) is used for NHG. sehr: fast gut i 10 ; vast hoch
xxvi 66; and for NHG. fest, tiichtig: sie soltten vast
studieren xxvii 5.

halber occurs three times, as in: Eyn gutter artzt dor vmb nit
flucht Ob joch der Tcranck halber hyn zucht xxxviii 21 f.

in (inn, jn, jnn) is both preposition and adverb, without dis
tinction in form: Er ist gef alien dar jn xlv 13.

me is about twice as common as mer, which seems to be used
mostly metri causa.

1 Occurs sporadically until the 16th century, Moser.

2 Cf. Paul 253, 6 ; also Roemheld op. tit., pp. 47 ff.

3 Cf. Zarncke p. 322 n. to this passage for other examples.

42 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

nyenan (= nie) occurs once, xxiv 3 1.1

ser has completely replaced vil, even in: das ich ser wunder
hob Vorr. 5.

vsz is the regular form of the adverb: Er mocht hie vsz wol
blyben syn xlv 14.

vor has the senses: fruher, worker, zuvor, voraus: Hett sich
Adam bedocht vor basz xii 11 ; Du vor die wergk / dar
noch die lere xxi 29 ; So wer er dock eyn narr als vor
xxvi 4 ; Sie hant die happen vor zu stur xxvii 2.

vorhin has the sense of vorher three times, e. g.: wer sich ver-
sicht v'orhin xii b.

vor vsz occurs in the sense of besonders.

wo, as in MHG., may mean wenn or als.

54. Instances occur in which the superlative of the adverb is
formed as in 1STHG., e. g., vffs aller best xxiii a.

1 Cf. 33 and Paul 344.

CHAPTEK VI. THE EELATIVE CONSEKVATISM OF
BKANT, LUTHEB AND SACHS.

It may be interesting to compare the Narrenschiff and the writ
ings of Luther and Hans Sachs with the purpose of determining
how much difference exists in the syntax of these divergent norms.
Unfortunately, the present work must he greatly circumscribed in
this respect by the lack or the inaccessibility of satisfactory pre
liminary studies. Most of the special treatises on the language of
this period stop with a discussion of the sounds and inflections.

Brant wrote in the Upper German literary dialect, with an
Alemannic or Alsatian caste. That he did have in mind the recog
nized norm,1 rather than simply using the local popular speech,
is shown, for instance, by his careful retention of the final -n,
which had certainly disappeared (one case, infinitive gschwige J
Ixxv 42 shows this loss).

The most conspicuous differences (aside from the sounds) be
tween the men under consideration will be found in the matter of
vocabulary; but the syntax, too, shows certain interesting points.

Genitive.

Luther uses the possessive genitive somewhat more freely than
Brant 2 : ihr seid Christi 1 Cor. 3, 23 ; doss ihr eines andern seid
Horn. 7, 4. In this respect Luther is more conservative, closer
toMHG.

In the case of the genitive of specification (Cf. 12) Luther has
a few echoes, which may appear doubtful 3 : der hats (= dessert,
darin) groszere Sunde 1 John 19, 11 ; ich hobs (dies Macht 1 Cor.
6, 12 4; but we find also well-defined instances: sie waren des
Handwerks Teppichmacher Ap. 18, 3; die Lehre welcher5 du

'Gessner (ca. 1560) calls it ''lingua commums Germanica vel Helvetica,"
Burdach: Die Einigung der nhd. Schriftsprache, p. 21.

2 The citations are from Lehmann, who has used the modern orthography.

3 But cf. the development as indicated in 22, footnote to entleren.

* Lehmann 27 does not recognize this construction in the above examples.
5 Lehmann 10 refers this genitive, and similar ones, to the verbs.

(43)

44 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

unterrichtet bist Luke 1, 4 (only in the earliest prints). Luther
construes certain adjectives analogously (cf. 13) : ungldubig (but
glaubig with an), geizig^ wert.

Luther uses the instrumental genitive (cf. 14) : der GerecJite
wird seines Glaubens leben Rom. 1, 17 2 ; also the genitive of
characteristic (cf. 15) : der ist des Glaubens an Jesu Rom. 3, 26 ;
der ward Unmuths Mark 10, 22 ; and the genitive of quality
(cf. 16) is very common (the Narrenschiff has not a single case) :
0 ihr TJioren und trdges Herzens Luke 24, 25.3

Luther seems to have no clear instance of the genitive to express
cause or source (cf. 17 f.), unless we may so regard the phrase:
es Spott haben, in : die andern Jiattens ihren Spott Ap. 2, 3, and :
so wird ers Schaden leiden 1 Cor. 3, 15. At all events, this is an
instance in which Brant is the more conservative.

In their use of the genitive of material (cf. 19) Luther and
Brant coincide, both being somewhat more restricted than MHG.

Luther is less free with the partitive genitive than Brant. It
occurs in Luther with expressions of quantity or number: viel,
wenig, was, etwas, nicht; with trinken; and with superlatives.
Circumlocutions with von and aus occur also.

Preliminary studies of the genitive in Sachs were not available
for a similar comparison of his syntax in this particular.

Verbs.

A table of the varying constructions will give the clearest
impression of the verbs which differ in Brant and Luther.

BEANT LUTHEE

f w. genitive

entberen w. genitive . . . \ , . , • n \

lw. accusative (occasionally)

, . , , j, , , . f w. ace. of thing

bitten w. gen. of thing . . 1 _

I w. um and ace.

(ge)bresten w. dative . . (rare, only in earliest prints)

t » jL. f w. genitive

oruchen w. accusative . . \

(w. accusative

(sich) w. gen. . . . not found as reflexive.

^ehmann 11. 2 /&. 10. 3/6. 13.

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 45

BRANT LUTHER

f w. genitive
dencfcen w. genitive . . . J 7 ,

jw. a^ razm, m>er

fw. genitive )

eroen 1 . }• . w. accusative

( w. accusative \

entpfinden w. genitive . . w. accusative

, e / - 7 x f w- genitive

frowen (sich) w. gen. . . J , ,

} w. cm/ and ace.

fur en (feiern) w. gen. . . w. accusative

7 f w. genitive

beqeren w. genitive . . . J

( w. accusative

lekommen (= treffen) w. dat. [found, but very rare (Francke

does not note it).

gelangen (impers.) w. ace. . does not occur.
(ge)lieben (=gef alien) w. ace. very rare

fw. accusative
(ge)lusten (impers.) w. ace. | ^ ^^

vermahlen trans, w. ind. obj. not noted

/ x i ' . fw. accusative )
(ge)schwigen J f w. genitive

( w. genitive J

, , fw. gen.)

sorgen (= sorge traqen) J ^not noted

| w. ace. J

versumen (sicJi) w. gen. . versaumlich w. genitive

In Luther, as in Murner,1 progressive forms are rarer while in
Sachs they are much more common.2 The Alemannic-Alsatian
was fond of these progressive forms.3

Brant follows the MUG. practise with ge- prefixed to the past
participle (cf. 44) ; Murner uses it oftener,4 while Luther practi
cally conforms to the modern norm, having ge- as a rule.

1Shumway: The Verb in Thos. Murner I, p. 35.
2Shumway: Das aUautende Verbum lei H. Sachs, p. 11.
3Socin: Schriftsprache und Dialekte, p. 183.
4 Shumway : The Verb in Thos. Murner I, pp. 29 ff.

46 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

Prepositions.

The most satisfactory conclusions may be drawn from a study
of the various prepositional constructions used by these writers.1

Both Sachs and Luther use prepositions with the freedom which
MHG. enjoyed, but have lost the careful distinctions which the
older language observed, as, for instance, in the cases of an, fur
and vor. Brant is universally conservative in this respect, feeling
himself closely limited by the MHG. usage.
an

While Luther uses phrases like: reich an oiler Lehre (to replace
the MHG. genitive, cf. 13) and Sachs has: drunib wundert micJi
an dein geberden Fsp. 47, 22 (to replace the causal genitive, cf.
17) ; es tut mir an dir also andt (= leid) Fsp. 49, 14; funff an
(= gegeri) unser drey Fsp. 32, 197 ; an (= als Pfand fur) einen
Schuld F. S. 361? 11 ; Brant knows only the traditional signifi
cance of position, except in a few phrases like fahlen an and in
substitutions for the partitive genitive, the latter an old established
construction.
ab

Brant and Luther still use ab (abe), though rarely; Sachs does
not have it.
after

Luther alone has after, in the pejorative sense of nacJi.
auf

Sachs occasionally uses auf where nowadays we should use an
or in: auf d&m wald, Frankfurt auf dem Meyn; also auf in time
phrases: auf d&m morgen. Luther is most conservative with auf,
while Brant extends its use: vff das for damit doss; vff for in
Bezug auf (Sachs also), but never uses it to mean any other posi
tion than that understood today.
aus

Sachs and Luther use aus in phrases to replace the partitive
genitive ; this construction does not occur in the Narrenschiff.
bei

Sachs has: Den schickt er dem Gardian bey (== durch) seinem

1 Cf. Miller, C. R.: The Preposition in Hans Sachs (see bibliography).

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff 47

Son F. S. 293, 41, 91 f. (often so) ; erkennen lei (= an) ; ver-
stehen bei (= unter) ; Luther has bei in the sense of ungefdhr,
and also uses it with the accusative (of limit of motion). All
these constructions are unknown in the Narrenschiff, as is ausser-
halb.

bis

Sachs and Luther use bis freely, Brant comparatively rarely.
f iir vor

Brant is most conservative with fur and vor, writing fur once
instead of vor, and vor once instead of fur; Sachs has fur instead
of vor six times, while in Luther all distinction has disappeared.
Sachs uses fur to replace the causal genitive: layd fur dich, fur
dich schemen.
gegen gen

Brant uses gegen with the accusative only, gen with the dative ;
Sachs makes no distinction; Luther is most like MHG., using
gegen with either dative or accusative. In Luther gen is restricted
to place names.
in

Sachs has: in bett, in seinen tagen, in die leng; Brant has none
of these. Both Brant and Sachs use in to express purpose;
Luther does not use it so.
mit

Brant uses mit generally to express an accompaniment rather
than purely an instrument, except in mit namen nennen; Sachs
has the instrumental use often.
ob

The Narrenschiff has but one instance of ob, while Sachs uses
it frequently in many meanings : position, for an, auf, bei, vor,
uber, etc. ; causal with the reflexives beJclagen, freuen, erzumen;
with spotten, etc. ; also (rarely) with the accusative. Luther
uses ob freely, but only with the dative.
ohne

Brant uses on with the accusative or the genitive; Sachs and
Luther restrict it to the accusative.

48 The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

fiber

Sachs lias phrases with uber to replace the causal genitive after
Jclagen, erziirnen, etc.

um

Brant and Sachs agree in the use of um with the accusative,
while Luther uses it with both accusative and genitive.
unter

Brant uses under in the time phrase underwit, which Sachs
and Luther do not have.

Summarizing, we find that Brant is decidedly the most conser
vative, as a rule, with prepositions, while Luther and Sachs, in
their different ways, are very close together in the order named.

Miscellaneous differences.

Luther has sick for the dative of the reflexive regularly, but
sometimes im. Brant has im always.

Luther has es for the genitive of the pronoun es, as in MHG. ;
always des (NHG. dessen) ; and prefers the short forms (as in
MHG.) ir, im, in (NHG. ihnen), der (KHG. dereri), den (OTIG.
deneri), wes.1

Brant and Sachs use correlative als . . . als (as in MHG.)
where Luther and NHG. have so ... als; Brant has als where
Luther and NHG. have wie; weil is temporal in Brant and
Luther, causal in Sachs; wann (wenn) is causal in Sachs,2 but
not in Brant or Luther ; Luther uses the modern nichts, unknown
to Brant.

The conclusion seems justified that Brant's conservativism in
matters of syntax is greater than a difference of half a century
between the dates of the works compared would presuppose. He
must have been under stronger reactionary influences than either
Luther or Sachs.

1 Moser, see Bib. 2 Roemheld, op. tit.

The Syntax of Brant's NarrenscJiiff 49

Sachs was not a scholar. His models were frankly popular.
Linguistic forms meant nothing to him, and he had no traditions.
We should expect him to he the most naive in his language, to pick
up whatever he found handy, whether standard literary usage
or not.

The case with Luther is, of course, very different. We need
not seek in Greek or Latin influence the explanation of Luther's
variations: they were without doubt indigenous. Luther was a
scholar, a reformer. His aim in producing his translation of
the Bihle, for instance, was more than churchly : it was linguistic
besides; and this linguistic purpose was, in turn, two-fold: to be
universal and to be a standard — a model of language and style.
Withal, his thought was for the present and the future — never for
the past.

Brant's aims were quite different. He, too, was a scholar, but
he was a formal moralist, a reactionary, untravelled and insular.
He was not interested in linguistics in the NarrenscJiiff. For
him the past held many valuable precepts, the present and the
future were, nothing but grim preparation for the reward or pun
ishment to come. It was but natural that he should look back
wards linguistically, too, as we have found that he does.

BIBLIOGKAPHY

The following is a list of the books actually used in the preparation of this
work. It thus includes only those which in whole or in part treat the syntax
of the men considered, no attempt being made to list all the literature.

These editions of the Narrenschiff were used:

Sebastian Brant Das Narrenschiff: Facsimile der Erstausgabe von 1^94 etc.

ed. Franz SCHULTZ, Strassburg, Triibner, 1913.
Das Narrenschiff von Sebastian Brant ed. K. GOEDEKE, in: Deutsche Dichter

des 16. Jahrhunderts, Leipzig, Brockhaus, 1872 (vol. 7). (Abbreviated

"Goedeke.")

Sebastian Brants Narrenschiff ed. F. ZABNCKE, Leipzig, Wigand, 1854. (Abbre
viated "Zarncke.")

Dictionaries :

LEXER: Mittelhochdeutsches Worterbuch, Leipzig 1869-1878. (Abbreviated

"Lexer.")
MAETIN and LIENHABT: Worterbuch der elsassischen Mundarten, Strassburg

1895 and 1907.
SCHMIDT, Ch. : Worterbuch der Strassburger Mundart, Strassburg 1896.

Other works :

BUBDACH, K. : Die Einigung der neuhochdeutschen Sprache, Halle 1883.
GLAUS, P.: Rhythmik und Metrik bei Seb. Brants Narrenschiff, QF. 112.
DIETZ, PH.: Worterbuch zu Dr. Mcvrtin Luthers Schriften, Leipzig 1870.

(Abbreviated "Dietz.")
FBANCKE, Carl: Grundzilge der Schriftsprache Luthers etc., Halle, 1914.

(Abbreviated "Francke.")
GOTZE, Alfred: Friihneuhochdeutsches Glossar, in: Kleine Texte fiir Vor-

lesungen und Uebungen, ed. H. LIETZMANN, No. 101, Bonn 1912.
GBIMM, J.: Deutsche Grammatik (vol. 3), Gottingen 1822-1837.

GUTJAHB, E. A. : Die Anftinge der neuhochdeutschen Schriftsprache vor Luther,
Halle 1910 (Chap, in contains complete bibliography on Luther to date).

KEHBEIN, J.: Grammatik der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 16. Jahrhunderts,

Leipzig 1856.
LEHMANN, A.: Luthers Sprache in seiner Uebersetzung des neuen Testaments,

Halle 1873. (Abbreviated "Lehmann.")
MILLEB, C. R. : The Preposition in Hans Sachs, AMEBICANA GEBMANICA vol.

2, nos. 3, 4.

(50)

The Syntax of Brant's NarrenscMff 51

MOSEB, "Virgil: Hi&torisch-grammatische Einfuhrung in die fruhneuhoch-
deutschen Schriftdialekte, Halle 1909. (Abbreviated "Moser.")

PAUL, H.: Mittelhochdeutsche Orammdtik, Halle (8th edition) 1913. (Abbre
viated "Paul.")

PIETSCH, P.: Martin Luther und die hochdeutsche Schriftsprache, Breslau
1883.

ROEMHELD: Die deutschen Conjunctionen " wande" " denn" und "Weil" dis
sertation Gieszen, Mainz 1911.

SOCIN, A. : Schriftsprache und Dialekte im Deutschen, Heilbronn 1888.

SHUMWAY, D. B.: Das ablautende Verbum bei Hans Sachs, dissertation Got-
tingen 1894.

—* The Verb in Thomas Murner, AMERICANA GERMANICA vol. 1, nos. 3, 4.

WEINHOLD, K.: Alemannische Grammatik, Berlin 1863.

INDEX.

NOTE: For general headings, consult Table of Contents. Words are
indexed by roots (as entpfinden under finden), except where the root is no
longer recognizable, or obsolete (as glouben, vergessen, benugen), when they
are arranged alphabetically. Figures refer to pages.

a

ab prep.,

achten (also acht haben)

after prep, and prefix,

allenthalb

als

an prep.,

article (def.) omitted,

auf see vff

aus see vsz

b

behend

beitten (=warten)

benugen

entberen

bis

bitten

blosz

(ge)bresten-

bruchen

dann (denn, etc.)

das (NHO. doss)

dencken

bedencken

gedencken

der as rel. pro.,

des causal (=deswegen, etc.)

dienen

verdingen

do (=wo)

draffter

drincken

duncken 13; (be) duncken

durch

bediiren

(be)durfen

20, 21

24, 46

diirsten

13

31, 32

46

e

41

echt conj.,

40

39, 48

erben

33, 45

26, 46

eren

18, 20

30

ettwan

41

eynst (=semel)

41

f

falen

20, 21

17

gefallen

15

15

fast (vast, =sehr)

41

31, 34

entpfinden

20, 21, 45

20,

21, 44

flyehen

13

47

flyssen see vlissen

36, 44

folgen see volgen

17

freud han

19

15,

31, 44

fro

18

31,

32, 44

frowen

20, 21, 45

25, 46

friiren

13

fry

17

gefiigen

15

39

fur prep. (cf. vor),

24, 47

39

fiirchten see vorchten

20,

21, 45

furen

21, 31, 45

13, 31

31, 32

g

28

began

31

c.)

18

ge- (prefixed to verb

forms) 37, 45

15

gegen prep.,

24, 47

31

gelten

15

29,

40, 41

gen prep.,

25, 47

41

Genitive in Luther

43

19, 44

(be)geren

13, 32, 45

31

glich adj., prep.,

26

24

glichen

15, 31

13

glouben

15, 33

(52)

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

53

goch sein

15, 31

n

vergiinnen

15, 31, 36

nemen

15

annemen

31, 34

h

war nemen

22

halber adv.,

41

nichts pro.,

48

halten
uberheben

33
21, 31

genieszen
noch (=nach) as prefix

34

27

helfen

33

not sein

15

hoffen

31

numerals

20

gehoren

15

nut (= nichts)

29, 44

hungern

13

nyenan

42

hiiten

34

bhiiten

13

o

hynder sich = zuriick, etc.,

26

ob con/., 40; prep.,

25, 47

i

on (MEG. due)

24, 27, 47

in prep., 26, 47; adv.,

41

P

pflegen

22

progressive forms

38, 45

keyn

19

Pronouns: pers., poss., 28;

reflex., 28,

( be ) klagen

21, 31

48; rel., 28, 29; demonstr., 29;

abkommen

21

antec. inanimate,

29

bekommen ( = 6 egegnen )

15, 27, 45

erkunden

13

r

raten

15, 31

1

uber reden

36

lachen

21

rftfen

15, 31

gelangen

13, 45

( be ) rumen

22, 31

lar (= leer)

19

verruchen

22, 31

lassen

15, 31, 38

ruwen

36

geliben

31

lieben (= amare)

15, 45

3

( ge ) lieben ( = placer e )

15, 31

schamen

36

lonen

31, 34

schelten

31

lugen

31, 34

bescheren

15, 36

luppen

15

schmeichen

15

lusen

15

schonen

22

(ge)lusten

13, 45

schwigen

31, 35, 45

lyden

31

versehen

22

ser adv. (=MHG. vil) ,

42

m

sin (pers. pro., = dessen, demon

vermahlen

13, 15, 45

str.)

29

manch

20

so conj.,

40

manen

34

so rel. pro.,

29

me (mer) 19,

20, 30, 41

so ... als

39, 48

verinessen

22

solch . . . als

39

mit

25, 47

gesoln

31

mussig

17

sorgen

35, 45

The Syntax of Brant's Narrenschiff

sparen

16, 34

w

spotten

22

waltten

22

verstan

31, 34

wann (wenn etc.)

39, 40, 48

vnderstan

13

warten

22

stehlen

31

was

19, 29, 44

(ver)sumen

22, 31, 45

verwegen

22, 31

swar

18

welcher (weller)

28

sydt conj.,

40

gewenden

14

wer was as rel. pro.

28

t

eins, jnn werden

22

trowen (=NHG. drohen)

15, 16

(ent) (er) weren

35, 37

urtrutz

18

werffen

14, 31

truwen

15

wert

17, 44

tun (dun)

15, 33

weynen

23

wichen

15

u

wie conj.,

41, 48

iiber

48

wil (die wil, wile) conj.,

41, 48

vff

26, 46

wissen

36

vmb

24, 47

gewisz

17

under

26, 47

wo conj., 41, 42; adv.,

29

unwillen

16

wol sein

15

vrteln

13

gewonen

23

vsz prep., 25, 46; adv.,

42

wundern

31

tit (=MHG. icht)

14, 29

wunschen

36

V

y

vergessen

20, 22

yeman, yederman

29

vil 19

, 20, 30, 44

beviln

14

z

vlissen ( flyssen )

20, 21, 31

bezalen

15, 37

volgen ( f olgen )

16

zemen

15

rt c

voll

19

zu

25

von

25

beziigen

31, 37

vor prep. ( cf. fur ) , 25, 47 ;
vorhin adv. (=vorher),

adv., 27, 42
42

erziirnen
zychen

14
14

vorchten (fiirchten)

35

verzyhen

15

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